EXCLUSIVE: “The View at 28 — Inside the Scandalous Host Rankings That Left One Star in Ruins”
A Brutally Honest Take on TV’s Most Polarizing Talk Show, Featuring Secret Feuds, Backstage Politics, and the One Host America Couldn’t Forgive.

After nearly three decades on air, The View remains a battleground of ideas, egos, and unexpected alliances. But on its 28th anniversary, what was meant to be a celebratory retrospective ignited a firestorm: a highly-anticipated ranking of every co-host in the show’s history has leaked online — and it’s causing chaos behind the scenes.

Sources close to the production describe it as a “bloodbath” for some and a “coronation” for others. Yet one name—among over 20 co-hosts since 1997—was, in the words of a senior ABC insider, “mercilessly taken down… almost to the point of career assassination.”

The Fall of the Blonde Lightning Rod

That host? None other than Meghan McCain.

Described as “a firebrand who lit matches faster than producers could contain them,” the daughter of the late Senator John McCain has long divided audiences. But the leaked internal memo—allegedly compiled by former showrunners, guest bookers, and even security staff—painted a picture darker than expected.

“Every taping felt like walking into a Cold War,” wrote one unnamed staffer. “She wasn’t just difficult — she was destructive. Producers had to redesign seating plans to keep the set emotionally neutral.”

The memo ranks her dead last among 22 permanent co-hosts, citing hostile energy, conservative extremism veiled as independence, and zero on-screen chemistry with core members like Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg.

But according to insiders, it wasn’t the politics that cost her — it was the pride.

A Toxic Legacy?

While McCain has fired back publicly in the past, even publishing a memoir detailing her “pain” on the show, a former guest coordinator claims she weaponized her family name behind the scenes:

“There were times when she would threaten to ‘make a call to D.C.’ if we didn’t treat her a certain way. It was intimidation cloaked in victimhood.”

Perhaps the final blow? Her name was reportedly left out of the internal 28th anniversary sizzle reel, a montage that aired during last week’s closed-door reunion taping.

“She wasn’t just ranked last,” says one floor manager. “She was erased.”

And the Crown Goes To…

By contrast, Joy Behar, the only remaining original co-host, earned the top spot. Producers praised her as “the soul of the show,” able to turn from sarcasm to sincerity without missing a beat. Whoopi Goldberg followed closely behind, credited for “keeping the ship from sinking more times than the public will ever know.”

Other high-ranking names include:

Meredith Vieira – praised for her journalistic backbone.

Sunny Hostin – noted for nuanced takes on race and law.

Sherri Shepherd – remembered for her emotional authenticity and connection with viewers.

Notably, Rosie O’Donnell was controversially ranked mid-pack, with one entry reading: “The passion was real. But so was the damage.”

The Secret Tapes and Missing Host

Adding fuel to the fire, whispers have emerged that ABC execs unearthed never-before-seen footage of backstage arguments — including a shouting match between McCain and a then-pregnant guest host that allegedly ended with both women leaving the studio in tears.

The footage, sources say, may never air publicly… but could find its way into a potential The View: Untold docuseries being quietly pitched to Hulu.

Meanwhile, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, once viewed as the most controversial conservative on the panel, reportedly declined to comment on the rankings — but insiders say she privately texted McCain: “You should’ve known this was coming.”

What’s Next for The View?

As ABC prepares for Season 29, new rumors suggest the network is considering a rotation model for the conservative seat — bringing in younger, lesser-known voices rather than anchoring the panel with another political heavyweight.

In the words of one executive:

“We don’t want another Meghan. We want someone who can disagree without making America flinch.”

TL;DR?
The View’s 28-year legacy is a wild tapestry of clashing ideologies, unforgettable moments, and high-profile meltdowns. But as the leaked rankings show, not all hosts leave with a round of applause — some leave in silence, some in scandal… and some don’t leave, because they are the show.